Alright, folks! We're getting close to the end! But, first things first. When we last left our heroes, we had quite the revelation from our dear Chun-Li concerning Ryu. This led Ryu to make quite the decision: face Guerrilla head on. But how will the Neo-Shadaloo leader answer this challenge? Will he even do so? Why don't we find out? Also... it's time to add one last... very familiar character to this mix. What do you say? Shall we jump in?

Hearts & Fists Ch. 8

Dressed in his traditional karate gi garb, Ryu walked through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, looking for any sign of the Neo-Shadaloo soldiers or Guerrilla. The streets were populated and the temperature was burning but nothing seemed out of the usual. As he walked, as obvious as he possibly could be, he waited to be greeted by the evil warlord's men. He wanted to get their attention, he wanted this fight to end, and he wanted to end now. The Hadou Master soon felt a sharp blade pressed against his back.

"Ryu, Ryu, Ryu…" It was Vega. "You do have guts, I'll give you that."

He looked over his shoulder and noticed that Vega was wearing a cloak as oppose to his mask. "More than you."

"I'm hurt. But not as much as you're about to be."

"Can we get this over with?"

Vega smiled. "Right this way."

Ryu went the direction Vega guided him toward. They went to the edge of the Shebelle River where soldiers with assault rifles were guarding a boat. Ryu got on board, followed by Vega. The boat headed up river.

Just yesterday, the same night Ryu called Cammy. Ryu walked back into Chun-Li's hospital room. He put the phone on the table next to his chair.

"Ryu, what are you up to?" Chun-Li asked.

He looked at her and sat down. "I'm going after Guerrilla."

Her eyes widened. "Wha… By yourself?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"For you."

His answer, along with the speed it came and the emotion in his voice, caught her off guard. "What?"

"I don't want to see you like this. And I won't let him keep doing this to you. And the only way this can end is by facing him head on."

"He'll kill you."

"He'll try."

She did her best to move to her side. She didn't succeed but managed to sit up a little. "Ryu… please, don't. I dragged you into this. This is all my fault. I don't want you to get hurt… I… I don't want you to… go and get yourself killed… especially not for me."

He walked over to her. "And if I just sit here… we have no idea what will happen to Mei and Chow. We don't even know where they are. This way… you can, at least, get them back."

That statement confused her. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to make a trade with him. I go to face, wherever he is. He sends Mei and Chow here."

Her eyes widened. "While you do what? Get yourself killed?"

"No. Like I said… I fight him."

"Wha… No! You know what that psycho is capable of! He won't fight you fair! He probably won't even send Mei and Chow back."

"I gotta take that chance."

She couldn't forget about his earlier answer. "But… for me? Why?"

"Because… you have gone though a lot. All this for family… that's something special. It's something that isn't everywhere and it's really special in you. I don't want Guerrilla to take that from you. Or keep you from doing it any longer than he already has."

She fought to keep tears down. "Ryu… I don't want to lose you…"

He took hold of her hand and lightly squeezed it. "You won't."

Present. Ryu sat looking at Vega as soldiers sat on either side of both of them. Ryu's expression never changed as he continued to keep an eye out for any funny business. About an hour later, the boat came to a stop. They got out finding themselves in a jungle where a military truck with a tarp covered bed was waiting for them. Once they boarded the back, the truck drove deep into the forest until it opened up to a desert. They drove for about 15 minutes before coming to large warehouse with a small airfield set up around it set in the middle of the desert. Exiting the truck, they walked inside to see the warehouse doubled as a large hangar for military jet planes. Ryu looked around and took notice of all the personnel working on the planes, moving crates, and stocking weapons. They looked like they were prepping them for war.

"RYU!"

The World Warrior looked to see the Neo-Shadaloo leader standing on a catwalk the crossed the width of the warehouse.

Guerrilla rested his hands on the railing, peering down at his pursuer. "I was a little surprised to hear that you wanted to face me."

"Where are Mei and Chow?"

Guerrilla smiled. "Straight to business, huh? Alright." He waved over and two soldiers brought the young girl and the man who showed a semblance to Chun-Li brought on to the catwalk next to him. "Satisfied?"

"Fine. Now, let them go."

"Oh, no! Not yet."

Ryu just narrowed his eyes. He wasn't surprised by that response at all.

"You wanted a fight, correct? Well, you're gonna get one. In fact, you're gonna get three. The first will, of course, be against Vega."

Vega looked at Ryu and smiled. Ryu took notice of his grin but looked back up at Guerrilla.

"The second…" He chuckled, "Well, the second will be against the newest member of Neo-Shadaloo. You gotta get past Vega to find out who that is." He leaned on the rails of the catwalk. "And… if you make it past him… the third… will be against me."

"And if I win?" Ryu asked.

"All of you walk right out of here, free and clear."

Ryu knew there would be a catch to this. In fact, he was expecting Guerrilla to pull something like this. The African fighter had put too much effort into this whole operation and he was far too cunning for it to be that easy. Regardless, Ryu had to make it work. He looked at Mei's scared little face and Chow's apparently beaten up one and remembered Chun-Li's struggle for them both. He had to make this work. He looked back at Guerrilla. "Agreed."

Guerrilla smiled. He was enjoying this. "Well, then… CLEAR A SPACE! GIVE THESE BOYS SOME ROOM! LET THE GAAAAAAAAAAAAMES… BEGIN!"

Yesterday night. It only took about five hours for Guerrilla to hear Ryu's challenge via Cammy's connections. The phone call woke both fighters up. Ryu hurriedly answered the phone. Cammy told him that Guerrilla, reportedly, happily accepted his challenge. After getting all of the information about the where and when and how, Ryu thanked Cammy and hung the phone up, placing it near Chun-Li.

"It's done," he said.

"So… what now?" she asked.

"I get on a plane and go to Somalia. Someone will find me."

"And?"

He shrugged.

Chun-Li sat up as best she could, leaning over on her arm. "Don't do this. It's not worth putting your life on the line for."

"Name thing that's worth more than my life in comparison to your daughter's."

That was a hard… that was an impossible question to answer. "That… Th-That isn't fair."

"Maybe not. But it's true." He stood up. "Leave this to me, Chun-Li." He started to head for the door.

She leaned over as far as she could. "Ryu, please!"

He stopped.

"I know that you don't feel the same way for me like I do for you! But… please! Don't do this! I can't lose Mei! I can't lose Chow! But I can't live with myself if I sent you to your death!"

"You didn't." He looked at her. "This is my choice, Chun-Li. You put everything on the line to get them. Now… it's my turn."

"But… But, Ryu… this… this isn't your fight…"

"It became mine the second he targeted you. Not that you can't handle yourself… but an attack on one… is an attack on all. But… besides all that, I will not let him get away with what he's done to you."

As touched she was, she still didn't want him to do this. "Ryu, please… I… I don't want to lose you…"

He walked over to her, standing over her. He crouched down next to her so they were eye to eye. "Everything will be fine, Chun-Li. I promise. I'm not going in as unprepared as you might think. More to the point, I'm not going in as unprepared as Guerrilla might think. I actually did think this through and have a plan. But you have to leave this to me."

"But…"

"Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do. You. Trust me?"

The question caught her off guard. As did his close proximity. She couldn't help but be a little warm and short of breath over having him this close to her. But, that wasn't the focus. The focus was his question… and her answer. With his voice and the look in his eyes, she did completely. "Yes."

He put his hand on top of hers. "Then… trust me." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

Chun-Li's eyes grew wide.

Ryu pulled back.

She was still staring at him. Her cheeks bright red.

"I'll bring them. I'll be back. I promise." With that, he left.

Present day. The Neo-Shadaloo soldiers quickly moved all of the equipment and crates out of the way to clear a space for Ryu to go through his fights. In no time whatsoever, it seemed, a makeshift fighting ring was formed.

Vega put his claws on. "Oh, how I've waited for this…"

Ryu got in a fighting stance.

"I forgot you're not one for witty banter. Just so you know… this won't be like London." He put his mask on. "This one… is for real." He got into a fighting stance as well. "Shall we begin?"

Without a word, Ryu jumped at Vega, coming down with a kick. Vega moved out of the way. Ryu dodged a swipe of Vega's blade, then another and another. Ryu found an opening and punched him over and over again in the gut. Vega backed up, Ryu followed with a kick to his right arm. Vega stumbled back, holding up a guard with his claw arm. Ryu charged back in. The Spaniard pushed past the pain and rushed back to meet his nemesis. Ryu went for kick that Vega ducked under, performing a slide on his knees. He quickly got to his feet and turned around quick enough to catch Ryu with a kick to the ribs. Ryu reacted but came with left to Vega's kidneys. The masked man ducked down, coming up with a claw strike. The Japanese fighter had it well scouted. He moved out of the way, caught Vega's arm, and hit Vega, multiply and mercilessly, in the chest with his forearm. He finally let Vega go and the maniac stumbled back, breathing hard as air flow to his chest was greatly constricted.

"What's wrong, Vega?" Ryu asked. "You're usually more ready to fight than this."

Vega gritted his teeth. He leapt in the air with a yell, coming down the stomp. Ryu dodged the attack and the follow-up claw swipe. Ryu got in close and punched Vega in the gut, making it even harder for Vega to breathe than it already was. Vega tried to move faster but his lack of ability to gather a full breath was evident. He went for a claw strike and left himself open just a second too long.

All Ryu needed was that second.

Preceded with a spin, he gave an elbow hard to dent Vega's metal mask, breaking Vega's nose underneath.

The vain killer yelled in pain, immediately ripping his face guard off. He tossed the dented mask aside and grabbed hold of his face. He looked at the blood on his hands, which was flowing from his broken nose. "RYU! YOU…"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as Ryu came down from the sky with a kick directly to the side of Vega's face. An instant knockout.

Ryu stood over his fallen form. "Sorry, Vega. But I'm in a hurry." He looked up at Guerrilla, who had far less than pleased look on his face.

The titan swung his dreads out of the way of his face. He spit and cursed. "Not bad."

"Save it and send in the next challenger. I want to end this as quickly as possible. Chun-Li wants her family back."

"And what do you want, Ryu?"

"Nothing you can give."

Guerrilla smiled. "On the contrary. I have something… even you want." He pointed at the entrance of the warehouse.

The door opened. A man walked in, blocking all light coming in from the outside.

Ryu turned around. He didn't like what he saw. But he was ready for it.

A seven-foot tall muscular frame.

Tanned skin.

Bald head.

His fists and feet were taped.

Blue shorts with a red stripe on both sides.

An eye patch.

And, the most distinguishing feature, the large scar that Ryu caused across his chest and abdomen.

Sagat.

BOOM! Bet you didn't see that coming! OH-HO! What? ...Okay... that was too much. Sorry about that! :) But anyway... So... Sagat's in the mix. Though Ryu did clean house with Vega, is he ready to face his old nemesis? And what's this plan he mentioned earlier? And... what was with that kiss? Who knew ol' Ryu had it in him, right? Does he feel the same for Chun-Li or was that just to reassure her? Oh! And, I guess we know how Vega avoids being seen in public. Haha! Next chapter, the battles will continue but who will win the war?